Page 11 of Ryder’s Storm

Gabriel glanced at Samson. “Do you wanna tell him what went wrong there, or should I?”

“I’ll do it.”

What the fuck where they talking about? “I know what went wrong: Scarlet is a headstrong, manipulative, spoiled—”

“Enough!” Samson said with a raised voice. “You let yourself be outmaneuvered by a twenty-four-year-old introvert and quiet PhD student? Have you learned nothing? Why didn’t you track her phone to find her? Or did she switch it off?”

Shit! He hadn’t even checked, too annoyed that she’d left the car and disappeared. “Uhm…”

“You didn’t?” Samson shook his head. “Where was your head?”

“Not my fault!” Grayson protested. “Every single day, Scarlet pulls another stunt to piss me off.”

“And clearly it worked,” Gabriel said with a sideways look at Samson. “She pushed all your buttons.”

Grayson ignored Gabriel’s comment. “And she’s neither an introvert, nor quiet! She came back reeking of sex. She doesn’t want a bodyguard. When she turns twenty-five in three months, she’ll fire Scanguards anyway. She told me so herself. So I say, cut her loose now. She’s not worth the trouble.”

Samson let out a breath. “I didn’t know you were the boss here.” He paused for effect. “Oh, wait, you’re not. I’m still the boss. And as much as you’d like to take over so you can run Scanguards the way you want to, you’ve still got a lot to learn.”

The reprimand stung. He wouldn’t let his father dress him down, particularly not in front of Gabriel. “I—”

“I’m talking,” Samson thundered. “If you had bothered reading Scarlet King’s file, you would know that we can’t cancel her protective detail.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Since when don’t we have an out clause?” Grayson growled.

“I gave her father my word,” Samson replied. “Scarlet is delicate—”

Grayson huffed.

“—She’s sick. Her father suspects that she suffers from the same ailment as her late mother. He worries about her, even more so after the death of his son. I promised to do everything in my power to protect his daughter so nothing bad happens to her.”

Stunned, Grayson digested the news. “What does she have?”

“That’s confidential. Besides, you’re not on her detail anymore.”

Grayson felt relief flood him. “Thanks, Dad.”

“I’m not doing this for you,” Samson snapped. “I’m doing it for Scarlet’s sake. She needs somebody she can’t easily manipulate. You’re like a bull. She waves a red cloth, and you charge without thinking. We need to find somebody who can keep a cool head.”

“The twins can do it. Benjamin is already the backup on her security detail,” Grayson said. “Just make him the primary, and have Damian take over backup.”

“Damian is moonlighting at the Mezzanine with Patrick. He’s already spread too thin,” Samson said with a shake of his head. “And Benjamin has already expressed that he prefers to be the backup.”

“Oh, he gets a choice?” Grayson spat. “But when I complain about my assignment, I get dressed down?”

In the blink of an eye, Samson was on Grayson, and pinned him against the wall. “You still haven’t learned when to quit. Another word out of you, and I’ll assign you to babysitting duty for the next twelve months. Nod if you understand me.”

Grayson swallowed hard. What everybody at Scanguards called babysitting duty was the most boring assignment for any bodyguard. Nobody volunteered for it. Everybody dreaded it. It meant spending his days at an exclusive daycare center to watch over the kids and teachers. Nothing ever happened there. Boredom and the constant chatter of four- and five-year-olds would drive him insane.

Grayson nodded. Finally, Samson released him.

“You may leave,” Samson said.

Grayson pivoted and opened the door.

On his way out, he heard Gabriel say, “I think I know who’d be perfect for taking over Scarlet King’s protection.”

Grayson left, not even curious who would have to deal with her from now on. As long as it wasn’t him, he didn’t care.